Burnham Market - Saturday

I have had a busy day at Burnham Market today.  The day got off to a good start with Georgisaurous in the Intermediate.  He did a very nice dressage and was in the lead on a rather unremarkable score of 29. He show jumped a lovely clear, probably the best round he has ever jumped.  And he then popped around the cross county very happily, coping well with all the questions, and getting 10 time faults.  This moved him down to 3rd place but we are always happy to get a rosette.  

The ground on the cross country wasn’t as firm as I had anticipated.  It was certainly not soft but there was a bit of give and not too much jarring.

Summer at Fernhill got 32 in the dressage for a slightly below par test.  He warmed up well but when he went into the arena he lost his concentration and made a few mistakes.  In the show jumping he jumped a good round but the only fence he touched came down.  On the cross country he had a very frustrating 20, he was a little bit unsettled and there was a corner combination where I just couldn’t turn him, so we need to work on a little bit of submission.

Although Oratorio has had a busy two weeks, I decided to bring him to do the dressage and jumping in the Advanced as another good outing.  I was pleased with his dressage, there are a few things that need to be better but he scored 29 which was not a disgrace.  He then jumped a lovely clear show jumping, hardly breathing on a pole.  

Poor Little Fire ended up doing his dressage in a hail storm, so the  wheels slightly came off and he scored 31.  He did some nice bits but he did quite a lot of violent head shaking.  He jumped a super clear, so I was much happier that my two big hopes had rather improved since Belton.  I decided not to run him cross country and we are now working on Badminton fitness.

The day rounded off with Yes’s 4*S dressage and he really did a pretty decent test.  His flying changes were all good and I think he is quite close to doing a very smart test.  We have now got the ridiculously long wait until 4.30pm tomorrow when he show jumps.  There are a few questions on the cross county but the course looks good.  I am obviously hoping to get my 4*S qualification so I need to make sure I am going fast enough tomorrow.

Kazu was there too, he had Tacoma d’horset who did a 32 and a clear, and didn’t run cross country.  I think he was very pleased with that as she has now jumped a clear round in both her Advanced events.  Brookpark Vikenti is in the 4*S and did a very nice test of 28.

We are very lucky to be staying with good friends of the Joyce’s in Hoe - we are staying in luxury!  I am looking forward to catching up with the Joyce family tonight over supper.